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003 ☄ [Action (Forward-Dated)]

[Earlier she had sent Anakin a text that she was leaving with Obi-Wan for a while. She doubted it would be well-received at the time, but she needed to get away for a while. Now that she'd worked through some of the confusion, she sent another explaining her desire to see him. She didn't know if he would jump at the chance to see her now, but she did hope to see him.

There was so much they needed to talk about now that Luke was here.

So she sat, waiting eagerly at Sunset Hill for him to come. Eirta was happy to have free space to run around in, and the puppy Pokémon ran, rolled, and wriggled all over the ground. She smiled vaguely at the creature when he looked over to her, nodding to let him know that he could run further if he so desired. No matter how he answered her, she reminded herself that everything would be all right.

She was strong enough to overcome anything. She had to be. Their galaxy was depending on her.]

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[At first, Anakin hadn't thought too much of Padmé's earlier text, but as the hours went on he became more concerned. What could Padmé speak to Obi-Wan about that she couldn't with him? Was it about the future?

The future was a grim one. One he couldn't really fathom. How could someone as great as his own son--because surely, his son would be--exist in a time like that? Anakin knew what it would have meant in the eyes of the Jedi. He most likely was expelled. Or maybe they had made an exception, for him, since he was the Chosen One and all. Either way, he didn't understand, and Luke's vague answers only bothered him more.

When the next text came, he received it with a mix of relief and anxiousness. Padmé wanted to be with him, which was always a good sign. He just wasn't sure he'd like what they chose to talk about. He stopped when he saw Padmé, before walking up to her and sitting by her side.]

I talked to Luke.

[She looked up and regarded him for a moment, taking in that strong silhouette that she'd come to know so well, so fast. When he sat she offered a small smile before looking down to her hands, folded neatly--tightly--in her lap.]

Me, too. [She looked back out over the train tracks and the horizon.] He does look a lot like you.

[He nodded, unable to keep his eyes on the scenery for long. Instead, he found himself staring at Padmé. It would be easy to forget their agreement, ignore what she had just said and allow himself to get lost in this moment.]

I noticed. But some things don't fit. The way he holds himself, it's different. He's strong, but not in the same way. Did you notice it too?

No, I... I didn't notice. [She can't look at him because she was afraid of being swept away by his gaze. It had happened before, when it should never have happened.

Her Growlithe approached them, eying him for a moment before it sat at her feet and laid its head in her lap, offering what little comfort she had missed without R2 by her side.]

He said he was raised by your family on Tatooine. Maybe he holds himself a little like Owen did. [She reached out to stroke the creature's head gently.] He said...he doesn't know who his mother is.

[He glanced at the Growlithe, grateful that Padmé did have some sort of company for when he was gone. It didn't take him long until he wasn't looking at the Growlithe any more.]

I don't know who Owen is. I know what having a son would mean for my place in the Jedi Order. [He frowned deeply.] But, I wouldn't abandon my son like that! [But he had already abandoned family, hadn't he? His voice began to rise in volume. He was angry more with himself and the situation than anything.] I don't know what's going on, or why I wasn't there for him, or even who his mother is. There are too many gaps and it just doesn't make sense.

[She had almost forgotten that something was strange between their timeline. It was only a little off, but she had met his family while he had not.]

I know you wouldn't. [Against her better judgement, in her desire to be there for him she twisted toward him and reached out to cover his hand with her own.] I know...

[She sighed softly, dropping her gaze again but not retracting her hand.] Luke and Starkiller both said that the Jedi had to go into hiding after the Republic fell. Maybe the only way to protect him was to hide him.

[Her touch was comforting, gently quelling some of the fire that had left him angry and confused. He squeezed her hand slightly, a nearly unconscious action.]

Why did the Republic fall? We all want the same thing: to change the future. But Luke isn't giving us enough information to go off of. He's not giving me enough information. It's like... [He paused, becoming more upset when he spoke the words.] It's like he doesn't trust me!

That's not true, Anakin. He trusts you. He does. I... [She hesitated, but continued honestly.] I'm the one who asked him not to tell you everything. Not yet. Not until I'm sure that it has to be done.

[She reached out to gently touch the side of his face, trying to draw his gaze to her for just a moment.] And you know I trust you, Anakin--more than anything.

[She glanced down for just a moment before she drew in a shaky breath and went on.] Luke...also said he has a twin sister who looks like me. I don't know if you have anyone else in your heart, Anakin, but I'd like to know. I need to know.

You? [Anakin narrowed his eyes, startled and confused and a little hurt.] Why? What has to be done?

[Sure, he knew. He thought he did. Now, he wanted to believe her, but he couldn't help but wonder.] If you're trying to protect me from something that might upset me, I'd rather you say it!

[He froze, anger quickly forgotten.] What? [He had two children? He just stared, not fully listening to what she was saying, but when it did register he nodded truthfully.] You're the only person in my heart, Padmé. You're the only person I want in my heart. I think about you all the time, you know that. Why? Are you saying that... [He felt speechless. How did they go from agreeing not to acting on their feelings to that?] Do you think this Luke is playing an elaborate joke on us?

Well, I'm no Jedi... [She tried to lighten the situation--the conversation--but after a moment her faint smile faded.] I don't think he was. I'd already been told about the Alliance before he arrived, and he seemed eager to find out about you. He was sincere.

He knows you, and he cares about you. [Her hand went back to his, if only to ground herself.] But he doesn't know me, and neither does Starkiller. I don't know if I'm...there, in the future. I take a lot of risks with my work. It's only a matter of time...

[Her brow furrowed for a moment as she drew in a breath, worried but no less resolute.] I think you'll understand once we speak with Luke again. I'd like for him to stay with us, and I'd like to tell him that I'm his mother.

Edited 2011-10-22 08:06 (UTC)

Luke might truly believe it, but that doesn't mean he's right.

No. [He spoke abruptly, upset at just the idea of a future without her and fixed on proving her wrong.] I would never fail you like that. I can't. [There was a quake in his voice, so he went quiet, trying to calm down. When he spoke again, he did so slowly.] You're forgetting about the prophecy. Nothing that bad could possibly happen, because I'm supposed to balance it.

[Wait, Luke's mother? Anakin should have been happy, but how could he be when things looked so bleak? He looked at her, studying her expression, her features.] Are you sure?

[She approaches the topic carefully and gently after it's garnered such a response. She doesn't want him to be afraid of losing her; she's come to terms with it in her own way.]

You can't always be around me. You're a Jedi, you have so much you have to do. After the Military Creation Act, there will be something else for me to fight, and you can't be held back protecting me. Guarding people is a job for local security--you said so yourself.

In any case, I'm sure. [She smiles, just a bit, and nods.] I'd rather be his mother than think that someone else is. Besides, he seems like a smart boy. He had to get it from somewhere.

[She watches him from the corner of her eye, hoping the levity has an impact.]

[He smiles faintly despite himself, part resigned, part affectionate. She had a point.]

You always make it so hard to argue. I wonder if he also shares that with you.

[It should have been something to look forward to, not something to fear. But there was still time, and that was enough to convince him.]

But now that we know what would happen, we have a duty to prevent it. If we learn more about the future, we could find out where we went wrong. I don't want Luke to grow up without his parents, and I'm sure you don't want that either.

Of course not. Every child should grow up with their parents. [She tilts her head, just enough to press her forehead against his shoulder.] I'm glad you're here, Anakin.

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003 ☄ [Action (Forward-Dated)]

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